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Feb 2019

Hi All!

As correctly brought up in https://forums.tapas.io/t/titles-in-the-forums-discussion/31399/3132, more and more recent threads have been using misleading or unclear titles, which do not represent the content of its thread.

This practice is a problem. Aside from being a clickbait, it also makes it hard for users to find the topic again or avoid creating similar topics in the future.

Moving forward, this practice is discouraged. Threads like "Just too strange" or "Completely out of left field but" will need to be renamed moving forward.

This can be done in three ways:
1) Notify the OP that the post should be renamed. You may link to this post for clarification. If you and the OP disagree, then feel free to
2) Flag a post for "Custom", and make a note of the issue. I will take a look as a neutral third party and come to a decision. The flag will be removed and won't count against the OP's record.
3) If you are a member who can change a post's name, you are allowed to do so. If you make a change, please post a comment to notify OP and everyone in the thread of the change, like "Changed topic name from "X" to "Y", because it wasn't quite clear."
This allows the OP to step in if they find the change unfair. If you can't find a solution, you may then go back to option #2.

Please understand that this is a forum. Clarity is important to keep conversations flowing and future duplicate threads as low as possible. You can still use funny titles and add your own unique spin to them, as long as the core message stays clear.

Thank you all!
Rat

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pinned Feb 18, '19

So if the OP doesn’t agree with changing it, we change it anyway, or do you mean feel free to...follow the other steps?

I don't think there should be a discussion needed. As a member who can change titles, you go ahead and do the change, notify the OP and if they disagree, just send a flag.

A long discussion in a running thread about the title should be avoided. There is no reason to have a big back and forth that ruins and ongoing conversation and invites an argument. I've changed names of a bunch of threads last night as an example.


Make the change, send a note that you made it, and move on. Don't forget, it is really just a title and really not that big of a deal.

I've seen your other suggestion of sending an DM to the OP, but in my experience, sending a private message often turns things into a far bigger deal than it actually is.

Oh. Okay. I guess I misread it. I thought people were just wanting to change it because they just didn’t like the way people were doing things. I mean, I agree on changing click bait and stuff. That makes sense. I’ll leave it as is.

im going to chime in and kinda say this might violate some form of free speech, all i know if someone changes any of my thread titles without my concent, it wont end well, i'm very anal with stuff like that

i may have agreed before but that was in a blind sheep mode, creativity nolonger exists on the forum, ban me, i don't care

And you're free to be upset about it, but that's exactly why there's rules before someone could just decide to rename a thread though

You're saying creativity's not allowed anymore, but that's not what I'm getting out of this? Especially since it says this near the end:

It's not really meant to prevent people from talking about what they want, but more just making the subject matter clear by changing a title, that's it

I find your dedication to thread titles like "Completely out of left field but" fascinating. Unfortunately, we have community guidelines that are required, necessary and helpful for users.

The wonderful thing about creativity is that it finds ways to innovate despite rules and guidelines. I'm confident that users will be able to create funny and creative thread titles, while also saying what the discussion will be about. Which, by the way, users have been doing correctly for the past three or so years that I've been on the platform.

my only complaint is the notification of a title change. I get it someone didn't like how I wrote my post the first time, do I really need the ping, and no I'm not yelling at ratique I'm just yelling at a wall, my wall... I got tired of titles with titles that served no point to the topic.

I currently find that very necessary, although I'm more than willing to change my mind if the majority of users wants to update the rule.

My reasoning: Updating a title without making a notification isn't fair, especially to new users who don't know any better and have no chance to learn the customs here. It's also really confusing if you have been in a thread and suddenly can't find it anymore. Adding the old name into the conversation should make it easier to pop up in search results, and provides an explanation of what happened.

If you don't feel comfortable to make a change and notify the user, you don't have to. Ignore the topic or send me a note or flag, and I'll do it. Although I feel like most of you guys are more than responsible enough to make smart choices or, on the other side, not to fall into a fit because someone made an adjustment. I don't always have to be involved.